After more than five years with Governor Steve Beshear Kerri Richardson is stepping down at the end of June to join a Louisville based communications company.

Current Deputy Director Terry Sebastian has been appointed by Beshear as the new leader of his communications team.

“Kerri’s work to keep Kentuckians informed and engaged about job creation, education and health has been a valuable asset to this administration,” Beshear said in a statement. “I wish her every success as she returns home to Louisville, where she will be closer to her husband and one-year-old daughter.”

Richardson served as communications director since 2011, after initially joining the administration in 2009. She was named the 2014 National Communicator of the Year by the National Association of Government Communicators for her work on kynect, according to a press release.

“Working for Governor Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear has been both the biggest honor and biggest challenge of my career,” Richardson said in a statement. “They love Kentucky and they work every day to make our state stronger, healthier, and more capable.”

“Over and over, the Governor has proven himself as a strategic, thoughtful and compassionate leader, and it has been a privilege to witness that work and to share it with my fellow Kentuckians over the past six years.”

According to the release, Richardson will be named vice-president of C2 Strategic Communications in Louisville. Her final day in the state Capitol is Friday, June 26.

Taking over the role from Richardson is Deputy Communications Director Terry Sebastian who has been in the role with Beshear since 2011.

“Terry is a capable and energetic leader with an extensive background in state government, and he will be a great fit in this position,” Beshear said.

Sebastian was Deputy Communications Director for Gov. Paul Patton, Communications Director for former Auditor Crit Luallen and former Treasurer Jonathan Miller and Communications Director for the Kentucky Justice Cabinet, the news release said.

“The Governor, First Lady and Lieutenant Governor have so much more to do the last six months of this administration. I know the Governor wants to finish as strong as he started, and I’m honored to continue to work alongside him and his team,” Sebastian said.

Nick Storm

Nick Storm is the Anchor and Managing Editor of Pure Politics available exclusively on Spectrum News. Pure Politics is the only nightly program dedicated to Kentucky politics. Nick covers all of the political heavyweights and his investigative work brings to light issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, like his coverage of the backlog of DNA rape kits waiting to be tested in Kentucky. Nick is also working on a feature length bio documentary Outlaw Poet: A documentary on Ron Whitehead. Pure Politics airs weeknight at 7 and 11:30 on Spectrum News. Follow Nick on Twitter @NStorm_Politics. Nick can be reached at 502-792-1107 or nicholas.storm@charter.com.